dawson



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. W. DAWSON.

HEDGE TRIMMING MACHINE.

No. 290,865 Patented Dec. 25, 1883.

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(No Model.) 3 SheetsShe'et 2.

' E. W. DAWSON,

HEDGE TRIMMING MACHINE. No. 290,865. 'Patented De'c. 25, 1883.

' VII/1 1 A I (No Model.) 3 -SheetsSheet 3 E. W. DAWSON.

HEDGE TRIMMING MACHINE.

No. 290,865. Patented B60 25, 1883'.

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EZEKIEL WV. DAW'SON, OF SMYRNA, DELAVJARE.

HEDGE-TRIMMING MACIHNE.

PJZCIFIOATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,865, dated December 25, ISIS.

Application filed March 12, 1883. (No model.)

T on whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, EZEKIEL W. Dawson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Smyrna, Kent county, Delaware, DUNE invented new and useful Improvements in Hedge-Trimming Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for trimming hedges and the like,- and the novelty consists in providing a machine which passes along one side of a hedge, with a rotary cutter which will maintain a vertical or horizontal position, according to the surface being operated upon,without being governed by the relative position of the carriage, which will ena ble an operator to adjust the cutter in its relation to the hedge; in the employment of read hedge as the carriage travels in either direction; and to these ends the invention consists, essentially, in the mechanisms and combinations of mechanisms hereinafter described, particularly pointed out in the claims, and fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional View of the carriage, taken transversely to its line of travel, with the cutter-frame and cutter in elevation; Fi 2, a plan view of the machine,

showing the cutter-frame deflectedto the rear in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section of the horizontal cutterframe and its connections. Fig. 4 is an inner face View of the cutter and its bearings. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of part of the cutter-frame, showing the cutter upon the lower side of the frame to cut the upper sur face of the hedge; and Fig. 6, a similar view, showing the cutter arranged vertically on an auxiliary frame to cut the side of the hedge opposite to that on which the carriage travels.

The invention is designed to trim the hedge from one side, so that the farmer need only The machine as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is adapted to trim the side of the hedge next the carriage. As shown in Fig 5, it is adapted to trim the upper surface of the hedge, and in Fig. 6 it is adapted to trim the side of the hedge opposite the side on which the carriage travels.

In the drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, A designates a carriage of ordinary and approved construction, having gear-connections between the traction-wheels, and a shaft, B, said shaft being journaled in the frame A of the carriage, and carrying gear-wheels G 0, arranged one on each side of and equidistant from the center 0 of the carriage, at which point 0 is pivoted the frame D, to which, by a universal joint, (1, is hinged the cutter-frame D. By means of the pivot c,the cutter-frame D and frame D may be turned to either side of the carriage, so that the cutter may operate upon the hedge as the carriage travels in either direction.

Vithin the frame D is j ournaled a shaft, E,

carrying a pinion, e, which is located so as to mesh with one or the other gear-wheel 0, aceordingto which sidethe frame is turned. To the said frame D is secured a standard, F, properly guyed to the frame by ropes or wires f, and carrying aspring-tie, F, which extends from the top of said standard to apoint at or near the center of the cutter-frame D. A ring, G, has vertical journals 9, which have hearings in the cutter-frame D, and horizontal journals g,.which have hearings in the frame D, thus forming a gimbal-joint, by means of which the cutter-fra1ne D has universal play independent of the frame D.

Upon the horizontal journals 9, which proj eet through the sides of the frame D, is hung a ring, H, having a downwardly-projecting arm, h, which carries a weight, H, secured to said arm by a spring, h, as shown.

To the shaft E, by a universal joint, 6, is connected the cutter-actuating shaft I, the free end of which is secured to the removable eutter-shaft J, to which is hung the revolving cutter J, which bears against a stationary disk, J, having cutter-teeth j. The cutter-shaft J 2 is, for a port-ion of its length, formed into a ceases sleeve, J which is adapted to receive the reduced end z of the actuating-shaft, to which it is keyed or secured by a set-screw. (See Fig. 5.) A hub, j", on the cutter-disk J projects through the stationary disk J, and is provided with a socket, which receives a ball, on the shaft J. The disk J has perforated ears 1' to which are loosely secured semicircular arms K, having slots is, which receive the shaft J From the upper and lower pivots of these arms K wires K extend inward, and are secured to a vertical arm, L, pivoted in the side bars of the frame D, and which has a central opening, through which the shaft passes, and in which it operates loosely, and to the ends of this arm, both above and below, wires K connect with the tilting-ring II. From the pivots of the horizontal arm K side wires, K", extend in ward, and are secured to the ends of the pivot g of the ring G-upon each side of the frame D. From any desired point near the center of the frame D a rope, wire, or chain, M, passes inward and over pulleys m m, secured upon the main frame of the carriage thence over a pulley, m journaled in a box, M, and through the eye of a weight, M suspended in said box M. This arrangement of pulleys m m m is duplicated, so as to serve as the frame D D is turned to either side of the carriage, and the connections may be readily made.

In practice an attendant walks behind the frame D and manipulates it up or down to strike the surfaces which need clipping, and

forward when the carriage is too far from the It sometimes occurs that large branches of the hedge or other causes effect a stoppage of the cutter, and disaster to some of the gear would result unless the operating devices were automatically stopped. I provide for such emergency by securing the whiffletree O to a pivoted arm, 0, having a hook, 0, which engages the eye of said whifiletree, a spiral or other spring, 0, connecting the arm 0 to the frame A. Then such obstruction occurs, the draft will act to overcome the constant force of the spring, and will be disconnected automatically.

I will now describe the construction and arrangement when the machine is formed to cut the top of the hedge.

Referring to Fig. 5, Q, designates a beveled pinion rigid upon the shaft I, and I? and P guide-pulleys for the cords K, arranged on the frame D, but serving no function when the machine is employed as shown-in Figs. 1, 2,

and 3. A hub-plate, S, is adapted to be secured upon the under side of the frame D. A shaft, R, is journaled vertically in the said frame, and carries a beveled pinion, R, which is adapted to mesh with the pinion Q.

Toadapt the machine to trim the top of the hedge, it is only necessary to loosen the setscrew as and cords K K K, take off the shaft J and cutter devices, adjust the same properly, as shown in Fig. 5, engage the set-screws x, and readjust the cords K K K-the cords K over the pulleys I and Pwhen the machine is ready for service, with the face of the cutter acting horizontally and susceptible of manipulation, as before described.

Referring to Fig. 6, T designates an interchangeable frame, adapted to be secured to the under side of frame D by the same means as the plate S, and having guide-pulleys I and P for the cords K, and a shaft, U, with beveled pinion U journaled in said frame, the shaft being connected to the shaft R by a coup ling, a, and the pinion U meshing with a similar pinion, V, upon the shaft V, j ournaled in the frame T at right angles to the shaft U. Each of the shafts It and V has a reduced end, similar to the part t on the shaft 1, to receive the sleeve of the shaft U or shaft J and se cured thereto by the set-screw m. In this latter arrangement, it will be observed, the cutters are again secured in vertical position, but with the face in an opposite direction, or toward the carriage, and in this position the outer side of the hedge may be readily trimmed. In any of the positions shown the frame D and cutters are supported by the springs and ropes and'weights, and the side cords act to keep the cutter in the desired position without regard to the deflection of the frame D or the amount to which the carriage is tilted.

I attach importance to the means for holding the cutter parallel to the line of travel.

Modifications in details of construction may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of my invention, the essential features of which will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a machine for cutting hedges, and in combination with the carriage, a pivoted frame having cutter-operating shaft connected with the drive-wheel of said carriage, and a hinged cutter-frame carrying a revolving cutter, the said cutter and frames being adapted to serve on either side of the carriage, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the drive-wheel, the shaft B, having gear-wheels G G, and in termediate gearing, of the pivoted frame having cutter-operating shaft provided with pinion 0, said pinion 6 being adapted to engage with one or the other of the gear wheels O C as the cutter is arranged upon either side of the carriage, substantially as described.

3. The pivoted frame D, carrying the shaft E, and hinged frame D, having shaft I, said shafts connected together by a universal joint, the cord M, box M, weight M and pulleys m m m all combined and arranged to serve substantially as described.

4. In combination with the frame A, pivoted frame D, and cutter-frame D, said pivoted and cutter frames connected by a universal joint, the rope M and weight M, the standard F, guy-ropes f, and springtie F, substantially as described.

5. The rotary cutter having balland-socketjoint and cutter-guard, as shown, and semicircular arms having slots 70, combined with means for holding said cutter parallel with the line of travel of the carriage, substantially as described.

6. The rotary cutter and cutter-guard, as shown, the slotted arms K 70, and frames D and D, combined with the ring H, having arm h, the cords K K K, and arm L, substantially as described. 7

7. The combination of the shafts E and I,

connected together by a universal joint, with the shaft J carrying ball j, the cutter J, provided with socket J fixed cutter J, slotted arms K k, and set-screw 00, substantially as de scribed.

8. The combination, with the shaft I, having bevel-pinion Q, of the shaft R, having bevel-pinion R, the plate S, shaft J and cutter, substantially as described.

9. In combination with the frame T, shafts 

